Device for lowering caskets



(No Model.)

J. H. BEATTIE.

DEVICE FOR LOWERING GASKETS.

No. 362,243. 7 Patented May 3, 1887.,

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N. PETERS, HMO-WW. Whhinllnn. D. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HJBEATTIE, or CONWAY, KANSAS.

DEVICE FOR LOW ERING GASKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,243, dated May 3. 1887.

Application filed February 9, 1887. Serial No. 227,035. (No model.)

casket may be readily, expeditiously, and

safely lowered in a grave or vault.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will.

be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device, and Fig. 2 a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one detachable roller.-

In carrying the invention into effect a 1'ect angular frame is provided, constructed of four vertical corner-posts, A, top and bottom end rails, A, and top and bottom side rails, B B, the said lower or bottom side rails, B, being attached to the corner-posts above the lower end rail, as shown in Fig. l, fora purpose hereinafter stated.

Upon the upper edge of the lower side rails, B, four or more journal-boxes, b, are secured .at equidistance apart, theend boxes preferably in contact with the cornerpost-s A. Transversely of the frame in the aforesaid boxes the axes of rollers b are journaled in such manner that the said rollers may be easily and expeditiously removed.

Metal plates D are attached to the inner and outer face of the upper side rails, B, in such manner as to project a distance above the top face of the rails, and the said plates are provided with a series of registeringapertures, d, a short distance above the upper surface of said side rails. The apertured plates D are of a length sufficient to extend from one side the center of the frame to the corner-posts A thereof.

Between the apertured plates D a journalbox, IE, is made to rest and slide upon the upper face of the side bars, B, in which box the axes of a roller, F, have their bearings, one roller at each end of the frame. The j ournalboxes carrying the rollers F are adapted, as aforesaid, to slide between the plates D upon the side bars, B, and their positions are fixed by a pin, 0, being entered through opposite apertures d in the said plates, for a purpose hereinafter stated.

Centrally and transversely the frame at the top a drum, H, is journalecl, operated by a crank, h, to which drum cords or ropes h are attached, adapted to pass from the upper side at each end over' one roller F and from the under side up over the other roller, as shown, the said cords or ropes being provided at the ends with attached hooks f. V

The periphery of the drum H near the crank end is provided with a series of apertures, la, a short distance" apart, adapted to receive the hooked end of a pawl, k, pivoted to the inside of the frame, the purpose of which is to stop the revolution of the drum.

In operation, the frame is placed over the grave or vault entrance and the casket M entered upon the outer lower roller, 1), which is elevated above the lower end rail and carried forward over the adjoining rollers. The top rollers, F, are now adjusted toward the center or ends, according to the length of the casket, and the hooks f are madeto engage thehandlcs. The drum is revolved to slightly'raise the casket and allow the lower rollers, b, to be removed from their bearings. The casket may now be safelylowered within the vault or grave, and as the casket reaches the bottom the hooks automatically disengage themselves, permitting the device to be removed.

\Vhen a box is employed as an inclosure for the casket, staples are driven in the sides for engagement with the pendent hooks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

1. The combination, with a frame having upper and lower side rails, B B, provided with a drum, H, journaled centrally and trans versely the top rail, adjustable rollers F at each side of said drum, and a cord or rope, h, attached to said drum and passing over said roller, of a series of rollers, b, detachablyjournaled upon the lower rails, B, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with a frame having 5 upper and lower side rails, B B, provided with a drum, H, journaled centrally and transversely the top rail, and apertured plates D, attached to the sides of said top rails, of boxes E, adjustably held between said plates upon 10 the rail at each side of the drum, rollers F, journaled in said boxes, and cords or ropes h, passing from the drum H over said rollers from opposite directions, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose herein set 15 forth.

3. The combination, with a frame having upper and lower side rails, 13 13, provided with a drum, H, journaled centrally and transversely the top rail, 13, apertured plates D, attached to the sides of said top rails, boxes E, adjustably held between said plates upon the rail each side of the drum, rollers F, journaled in said boxes, and cords or ropes h, passing from the drum over said rollers, of boxes b, attached to the lower rail, B, and rollers I), detachably held in said boxes, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

J AMES H. BEATTIE. Witnesses:

Enms E. BIXBY, R. T. BEATTIE. 

